The creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, set out to make a motion picture that specifically expressed personal conviction about the struggle we all face in life. In a 1999 interview, he was quoted in regards to his overall message: "The film is ultimately about the dark side and the light side, and those sides are designed around compassion and greed. The issue of greed, of getting things and owning things and having things and not being able to let go of things, is the opposite of compassion-of not thinking of yourself all the time. These are the two sides-the good force and the bad force. They're the simplest parts of a complex cosmic construction." (3)

"The hero's serial adventure, from the time of his birth (Episode III), to his recruitment to the cause (Episode IV), to his struggle with destiny (Episode V), to his ultimate victory (Episode VI), as the conscious bearer of the Spiritual Force, that brings an end to the galactic wars, and liberates the universe from tyranny, is the leitmotif of the trilogy." (1 - pg. 12) In the Trilogy, Yoda is Luke Skywalker's teacher and Obi-Wan Kenobi represents his spiritual master. Darth Vader is the tempter who tries to get Luke to forsake his spiritual path. "Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi are then symbolic of two sides, protagonist and antagonist, that compete with each other for dominance in the split mind of Luke Skywalker." "The central question of the film then is, in the battles for the supremacy over consciousness - - to which side will Luke turn - - to the genetic law, or the spiritual law, as the ruler of his destiny?" "Just as Cain, the bad son, repeats Adam, his father, in the providential lack of faith, Luke fears he will replicate Darth Vader's tumble through heaven's gate to become the anti-hero - - an angel of anger, misery and tyranny - - leader of the devils' minions. (1 - pg. 20)

In Star Wars, Darth Vader began his existence as an innocent child, born into a universe at a time when great winds of social and political change were sweeping the cosmic community. A dangerous polarization emerged which lead to the rise of a corrupt and evil system. Through its lure and deception, Anakin Skywalker was turned to Darth Vader. "This is the threat to our lives, we all face it. We all operate in our society in relation to a system. Now is the system going to eat you up and relieve you of your humanity or are you going to be able to use the system for human purposes?" (2)
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. On Becoming a Jedi Knight - Spiritual Wisdom in Star Wars: Jon Snodgrass, Ph.D. - (Jon Snodgrass, Ph.D. - 1999)

2. The Power of Myth: Joseph Campbell

3. Of Myth and Men: George Lucas interview - (Time Magazine - April 26th, 1999)